Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Iowa received a $2.88M Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded June 3, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2030. The research project, "Centrosome Subversion by Chlamydial Effectors: Implications for Cellular Transformation and Oncogenesis," will investigate how Chlamydia trachomatis (C.T.) manipulates host cell structures to establish infection while potentially triggering cellular changes associated with cancer development. The research addresses a significant public health concern, as C.T. is the leading cause of non-congenital blindness and the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infection worldwide, with prior or current infection recognized as a risk factor for cervical and ovarian cancers.

The funded research will employ proteomics and advanced microscopy techniques to elucidate the mechanisms by which C.T. effector proteins—specifically those delivered via the bacterial type 3 secretion system—disrupt centrosome duplication and inhibit host cell cytokinesis. The study will focus on characterizing the interaction between the bacterial effector protein CTEG and the host centrosomal protein centrin-2 (CETN2), and identifying additional bacterial factors contributing to centrosome amplification, multipolar spindle formation, and multinucleation during infection. This basic science investigation will advance understanding of host-pathogen interactions and may provide insights into the relationship between persistent microbial infection and oncogenic cellular transformation.